Hat



R. E. ENGER Aug. 13, 1968 HAT Filed May 4, 1967 2 lN/LZVTOR 0 nger United States Patent 3,396,408 HAT Roy E. Eager, Wheaton, Ill., assignor to Sears, Roebuck and Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New York Filed May 4, 1967, Ser. No. 636,200 7 Claims. (Cl. 2-183) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hat construction providing ready convertibility from one size to a smaller size or from one head shape to another. This is accomplished by securing to the halo band within the hat (the moistureproof band interposed between the sweatband and the crown) adjacent its free edge a strip of resilient material such as foam rubber. To reduce the effective size, the halo band is turned over on itself, bringing the resilient strip down adjacent the brim level. As a modification, by securing the resilient strip only to the sides of the halo band, a hat may similarly be converted from a more round to a less round shape. As a further modification, the resilient strip may be discontinuous, so that selected portions may be turned down, to modify the size and/ or shape in certain portions of the periphery.

My invention relates to hats, especially those intended for men, although not necessarily restricted thereto, and has as a special object provision of a hat construction permitting ready modification to reduce the size or to change the contour.

Background 0] the invention A major problem for the hat retailer has to do with stock keeping. Inasmuch as mens hats vary in size by oneeighth size, for the retailer to maintain a complete line requires a full range of sizes in all styles and colors, ranging at least from 6% to 7 /8, occupying a large amount of shelf space. The problem is aggravated under modern conditions by the large number of items offered to the public in so-called sport or novelty styles.

Description of the prior art According to present practice, should a retail customer select a hat which is slightly too large, the inside measurement of the crown may be reduced by insertion of one or more cotton felt strips between the sweatband and the crown. Although such an expedient may and often does produce a wearable hat, it is an awkward and unsatisfactory makeshift at best, inasmuch as the sweatband almost inevitably will buckle, the inserted strip is likely to shift in position, etc.

Other expedients have been suggested in the prior art, such as provision of a sweatband which may be folded over to increase its effective thickness (Crarnpton 877,885, I an. 28, 1908), or insertable strips of various constructions in lieu of cotton felt (Curtis et al., 833,587, Oct. 16, 1906).

Summary of the invention I have conceived of a simple and inexpensive solution of this problem whereby a hat may, by quick modification, be adapted to fit heads of different sizes, without the use of separate, insertable devices, and with no reduction in comfort.

Briefiy outlined, according to my invention, a strip or band of resilient material such as foam rubber or the like is secured within the hat at a level above the brim. Preferably, said resilient strip or band is attached to a band customarily secured in standard hat construction between the sweatband and the lower portion of the crown for preventing passage of moisture from the sweatband to "ice the crown, resulting in staining of the latter. This moistureproof strip I will refer to herein as the halo band.

With the halo band upstanding in its normal position, the addition of a resilient strip thereto adjacent its free edge has no appreciable effect on the fit of the hat because of the upward taper of the head.

However, should it be desired to reduce the size of the hat to fit a smaller head, the halo band is readily turned down inside the sweat band by the clerk or the customer. In this position the effective size of the hat is reduced, whereby it will comfortably fit a smaller head.

As a variation of my invention, the shape of a hat may be varied as well as or instead of the size by applying a resilient band, as aforesaid, to the halo band only along the sides of the hat between the sweatband and crown, whereby a hat shaped at the factory to fit a round head may be modified in the retail store to fit comfortably an oval or a long oval head.

Various other objects and advantages of my invention will doubtless suggest themselves to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds.

Brief description of the drawings Referring now to the drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention,

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a hat constituting one embodiment of my invention, with parts broken away to reveal the interior construction thereof;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the same, also with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, on a somewhat enlarged scale, taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a similar view, also on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 2, at a stage in the course of modifying the hat to fit a smaller head;

FIG. 5 is a similar view after the modification has been completed;

FIG. 6 is a series of sectional views showing possible variations in shape of the resilient strip forming part of my invention, and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of my invention.

Description of preferred embodiments The numeral 10 designates a typical hat to which my invention may be applied. While I have shown a style of hat known in the trade as a fedora, it should be understood that my invention is applicable to any style of hat having a sweatband 12 attached as by stitching at 15 along a line representing in general the juncture between the crown C and the brim B.

According to standard practice, a substantially moistureproof band 18 is secured as by stitching along a line 16 adjacent the lower edge of the usual outer decorative hatband H, band 18 usually being referred to as a halo band. Such a feature is employed in better grade hats to prevent passage of moisture from sweatband 12 to hatband H.

The halo strip 18 is normally of a width approximately equal to that of sweatband 18, its line of attachment 16 being above the line of attachment 15 of the sweatband.

In accordance with my invention, a strip or band 20 of resilient material, such as foam rubber or the like (which might be a natural rubber or a synthetic foamed resin such as polyurethane or the like) is secured as by adhesive to one face of halo band 18 adjacent the free edge 22 thereof. While, as shown (FIG. 3), in my preferred embodiment I secure resilient strip 20 to that face of halo band 18 normally disposed adjacent sweat- 3 band 12, it might with equal success be attached to the opposite face of the halo band adjacent the inside surface of crown portion C.

Normally, in this embodiment of my invention, the resilient strip 20 extends entirely around the crown of the hat and the hat is shipped from the factory and stocked in the retail shop in the condition illustrated in FIG. 3.

Let us assume a situation where a prospective customer selects a hat of the desired style and color in a size most nearly suitable for his head, but finds the hat somewhat too large. Under current practice, the salesman inserts inside the sweatband one or more cotton felt strips as a makeshift accommodation to the customers head.

When the hat is constructed in accordance with my invention, one proceeds as follows: First, the sweatband 12 is turned down to a position as seen in FIG. 4, the halo band 20 being then doubled on itself with the resilient strip 20 disposed substantially around the base of crown C. Sweatband 18 is then turned back, as seen in FIG. 5, to resume approximately its original position overlying halo band 18.

It will be seen that, with the parts adjusted as in FIG. 5, the fit of the hat is substantially reduced from about A; to /1, size. Accordingly, the retailer has been saved shelf space sufiicient to accommodate the stock of at least two ordinary sizes.

As a modification of my invention, provision may be made to change the effective shape of the hat to conform to various head shapes. Thus, in the hat industry, heads are usually classified as round, oval or long oval. A hat which has been blocked to suit one of these shapes will not comfortably fit a head of a different shape.

According to my invention, a hat may be blocked in a round shape and may be made adaptable to fit an oval or long oval head. This is accomplished by applying along the side portions only of the halo band a resilient strip similar to strip 20 in configuration, substantially as shown.

In such instance, where it is desired to convert a hat of round shape to an oval, it will merely be necessary to change the arrangement of the halo band from that seen in FIG. 3 to that of FIGS. 4 and 5.

Similarly, a hat may be converted from an oval to a long oval shape.

As seen in FIG. 6, the resilient strip employed by me for attachment to the halo band may take a variety of cross-sectional shapes. Thus, as illustrated in sections a, b, c, d and e, the strip may be oblong, square, triangular, elipitcal or round, or might possibly assume other suitable shapes and'forms.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of my invention devised to permit selective modification of a hat in various peripheral areas.

Thus, numeral 18' is a halo band, positioned in the hat similarly to band 18 of the hat described hereabove. However, in this instance band 18' is modified by providing a series of spaced V-shaped notches 30 which define normally upstanding tabs 32. Such tabs may extend entirely around the hat or only part-way, as in certain areas which are most likely to require modification, such as the front or back.

Attached adhesively to the free extremities of tabs 32 are pads 35 of foam rubber or other resilient material, similar in cross-section to strip 20 described hereabove.

It will be apparent that a hat embodying a band as illustrated in FIG. 7 will be even more adaptable than those previously described for modification to accommodate various head sizes and shapes. Thus, the tabs 32 may be turned down along the sides to produce an oval or long oval shape, while tabs in front and/ or back may be turned down to reduce the effective size to precisely the desired extent.

Thus, a hat constructed according to FIG. 7 will have an extremely high degree of flexibility or adaptability to conform to a variety of head shapes and sizes.

Various other changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art; hence, I do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described or uses mentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of my invention being limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hat having a crown portion, a sweatband attached inside and adjacent the base of the crown, and a halo band secured at one edge between the crown and sweatband, the securement being along a line adjacent and parallel to the lower edge of the sweatband, resilient means adhesively secured to a face of said halo band and adjacent and parallel to the other edge thereof and adjacent the upper edge of the sweatband, whereby a hat may readily be converted either to a smaller size or from a more round to a less round shape by folding over said halo band to bring said resilient means to a level closer to the base of the crown than in the extended position of said halo band.

2. A hat construction as in claim 1, wherein said resilient means is in the form of a strip of resilient material secured to the face of said halo band adjacent the sweatband when the halo band is in its normal extended position.

3. A hat construction as in claim 2 wherein said strip of resilient material extends entirely around said halo band.

4. A hat construction as in claim 2, wherein said strip of resilient material is disposed only along spaced lateral peripheral portions of said halo band, for changing the contour of the hat to a more oval shape to adapt it to a wearer having an oval-shaped head.

5. A hat construction as in claim 2, wherein said halo band is formed with notches in said other edge, providing a series of normally upstanding tabs, said strip of resilient material being likewise formed of spaced elements whereby selected tabs, with their attached spaced elements, may be turned down at desired points around the periphery of the crown to modify the shape and/or size of the hat to conform to a particular head.

6. A hat construction as in claim 5, wherein said tabs with attached resilient material are provided only in re stricted longitudinal areas of the halo band, to permit adjustment for head shape or size.

7. A hat construction as in claim 1, wherein said resilient means is composed of a plurality of spaced elements.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 816,301 3/1906 Curtis 2-183 833,587 10/1906 Curtis 2l83 877,885 1/1908 Crampton 2183 XR 2,406,700 8/1946 Miller 2183 2,406,701 8/1946 Miller 2-183 PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner. G. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner. 

